Assessment of Hybrid Coordinate Model velocity fields during Agulhas Return Current 2012 cruise
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Authors
Savage, Jonathan A.
Subjects
Ocean Model
HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model
HYCOM
Model-data Comparison
Ocean Comparison
Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
ADCP
ADCP-Model comparison
Agulhas Return Current
Agulhas Return Current 2012 Cruise
ARC12
Operational Model
HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model
HYCOM
Model-data Comparison
Ocean Comparison
Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
ADCP
ADCP-Model comparison
Agulhas Return Current
Agulhas Return Current 2012 Cruise
ARC12
Operational Model
Advisors
Batteen, Mary
Book, Jeffrey W.
Tokmakian, Robin
Date of Issue
2013-06
Date
Jun-13
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Performance of the Navys latest operational ocean forecast model (the Hybrid Coordinate Model, HYCOM, which became operational in March 2013) is systematically evaluated by comparing its velocity fields with actual ADCP velocities collected during a two-week cruise in the Agulhas Return Current region in 2012 (ARC 12). This chaotic region is complex and highly variable, with velocities sometimes exceeding 200 cm/s. Assessment using in-situ velocity measurements is very rare. This analysis characterizes the uncertainty in the model output and its predictions that Undersea Warfare operators, as well as other warfighters, obtain from the HYCOM output, and use in real world operations. Qualitative comparisons show good placement by HYCOM of persistent and energetic ocean current and eddy features, but difficulty (as expected, because HYCOM cannot resolve features finer than eddy scale) resolving the finer-scale variability present in the chaotic ARC region. Quantitative comparisons showed that the overall Root Mean Squared Error (RSME) is 35 cm/s and 47 near-surface, and 17 cm/s and 32 at 500 m depth, showing a general decrease of RMSE with depth.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Oceanography
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.